With the recent release of The Batman, my boyfriend and I decided to watch all the past Batman movies before seeing the new one. For some brief highlights, click here. Keep reading for a review of each of the 10 films we watched. Rankings of the movies, Batman actors, and villains are at the bottom of this post.
My review of The Batman (2022) will be out soon!
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars
This movie is the first time Batman was shown on the big screen and it pulls out all the stops. The film features Batman, Robin, Alfred and every famous villain in the Rogues Gallery. The dynamic duo are able to show off a variety of gadgets including the Batmobile and the Batcopter (everything is “bat” branded). It must be stated that this is one of the first superhero movies and stemmed directly from the popular TV series. It is cheesy and campy, but also entertaining. To compare this movie to modern films is unfair so I have observations outside of the obvious difference in genre, era, and style. One thing that stood out to me was the endorsement of Batman by local law enforcement. This is different from many modern interpretations of the character, where Batman operates outside the law as a vigilante. In fact, everyone in the film, including reporters and government officials all seem to not only support Batman, but also encourage him to keep his identity a secret.
Like a cartoon brought to life, with zany costuming and characterizations, this movie will entertain you with its over-the-top performances. I will say that certain gags were overused or a bit drawn out and other parts of the film could certainly be edited for length. This movie is not the typical modern cinematic experience, but more like a continuation of the classic television series. It’s good for some laughs and feelings of nostalgia but is hardly recognizable as compared to modern superhero movies.
Batman (1989)
Laura’s Rating: 3.5 Stars
The first revisit to Batman on the big screen is pretty good. I will say that the focus is not really Batman himself and he feels more like a side character. The focus is on reporter/love interest Vicky Vale and the notorious criminal known as the Joker. Vicky and Alexander Knox begin the film trying to find Batman in order to do a story on him. The journalism angle is interesting and I wish they would have followed through with it, rather than letting that story drop off later in the film.
Unlike a lot of other versions of the character, this Batman employs an “ends justify the means” kind of attitude. He is willing to kill for good and operates outside of the law. Bruce Wayne (played by Michael Keaton) is more of a playboy bachelor. His loyal butler Alfred literally anticipates his every move, shown in a great scene where Alfred follows Bruce around a party, picking up after him and preventing spills and crashes along the way.
Director Tim Burton brings a grimy steampunk feel to Gotham City with the grittier backdrop juxtaposed by the zany Joker. I like the origin story for the Joker within the film and Jack Nicholson delivers a quality performance in the role. While I don’t think the movie is fantastic by any means, it marks a shift from the All-American Batman of the 60s to a more grisly and realistic feeling antihero. While the special effects don’t really hold up and the movie feels very 80s (including the random Prince soundtrack that feels out of place), Burton and Keaton open up the universe for darker and more layered plots to come.
Batman Returns (1992)
Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars
I did not really enjoy this Batman film. First of all, despite main actor Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton returning for the sequel, there was a lack of continuity that bothered me. The city looked different, Bruce had a different mansion, and many characters from the first film did not return. The one follow through I did notice at the beginning of the film was that Batman was in with the commissioner and law enforcement this time around after the bat signal was established.
There are three villains featured in this film, starting with Danny DeVito’s Penguin. His performance was good in that he was dedicated to the role but the character was gross and pervy and his plan to get revenge for his horrible childhood felt underdeveloped. Additionally, the movie seems to use only a few set pieces, including Penguin’s abandoned zoo exhibit lair, which was cool until it became overused. The Penguin uses a rogue circus troupe turned biker gang to enlist the help of shrewd businessman Max Shreck in his plans. I did enjoy Christopher Walken’s performance as Shreck and he fit the character well. I liked the origin story for Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman (even if it didn’t totally make sense). The Selina Kyle character remained unstable throughout the film despite her alter-ego as Catwoman having robust confidence in certain scenes, and that didn’t quite add up for me. Unsurprisingly, the movie doesn’t manage to bring all three foes together cohesively. They each have their own plot and motivations, which creates a lack of direction. We barely saw Michael Keaton in this film as it focused again primarily on the villains and their origin stories. It was a step down from the 1989 film but was still entertaining.
Batman Forever (1995)
Laura’s Rating: 1.5/5 Stars
I thought this would be an early contender for my worst movies of the year list but there were more bad Batman movies to follow… This movie marks a shift in the series with Joel Schumaker as the new director. Gotham is a lot more colorful and flashy than the previous two films but I didn’t really like the change. Why is everything neon? The sets are cheap and confusing with the exception of Two-Face’s awesome lair that is literally split right down the middle to represent his two halves, light and dark.
The acting performances in this movie varied quite a bit. I like Val Kilmer in the title role because he has a more polished, old money appearance, which fits my vision of Bruce Wayne. He also nails lots of good fly-in entrances and decent fight scenes as Batman. Even with the cheesy script, I liked Chris O’Donnell’s origin story portrayal of Robin and it was nice to see that character back on the big screen. Psychology expert Chase Meridian (played by Nicole Kidman) is Batman’s primary love interest with a pretty overt passion for the caped crusader. Meridian is a darker, more mysterious love interest as compared to the innocent Vicky Vale character from Batman (1989). Meridian is always wearing black in this movie as compared to Vicky who often appeared in white in her film and was more of a damsel in distress type. I hate Jim Carrey as the Riddler in this movie and could not stand watching the scenes with him. His character is ridiculous and chaotic in a bad way. Tommy Lee Jones is alright as Two-Face but half of his face being literally hot pink makes him more comical than threatening. He also tries to match Carrey’s zany energy to an extent, which just makes both characters annoying and lacking in depth. Unless you’re really dedicated (like me) to seeing every version of Batman, you can skip this film.
Batman & Robin (1997)
Laura’s Rating: 1.5/5 Stars
This movie is really terrible. I like George Clooney but he puts nothing into this performance other than showing up and reading lines. Chris O’Donnell does okay in his return as Robin but the ceiling for his performances is pretty low. Alicia Silverstone makes an appearance in this movie and does alright but her performance wouldn’t hold up in a more high-caliber film (which, lucky for her, this is not). As for Batman’s foes, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze is so terrible that I almost like him and Uma Thurman looks great as Poison Ivy, but between the two of them there are some of the worst lines of dialogue I’ve ever heard. There were entire scenes of this movie that made me cringe with the villains exchanging one-liner ice and plant themed puns.
Batman & Robin features a truly terrible script and Bruce Wayne has a complete throwaway love interest that adds absolutely nothing to the plot. I am struggling to even remember details about her as I write this review. To end on a positive note, I do like Poison Ivy’s lair and I can almost appreciate Mr. Freeze’s on-the-nose hideout in the abandoned Snowy Cones Ice Cream Factory. Again, skip this unless you feel the need to see it or need to experience some bad 1990s nostalgia.
Batman Begins (2005)
Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Talk about a shift from the last Batman movie to this one. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Batman Begins is actually a serious movie. Rather than the comic book-esque campy films that came before it, this is a badass action flick with a plot that just happens to be inspired by Batman. The movie functions as an excellent origin story and creates the perfect setup for the rest of the trilogy. It provides an explanation for how most things in this universe came to be, from the practicality of how to make the bat costume to how Bruce Wayne could acquire the necessary gadgets to become an effective crime fighter. None of the movies before this even attempted much in the way of behind-the-scenes details but Nolan was determined to ground this Batman in reality. Gotham City looks like a real, modern city, with just a touch of whimsy.
Christian Bale is incredible as Bruce Wayne, a troubled orphan that can seamlessly slip into the playboy persona needed to maintain his public image as a billionaire bachelor. He has the physique to match a strong and capable vigilante, which makes the character feel real and believable. We also get backstory about his training rather than assuming that Batman has combat skills out of nowhere. I liked Katie Holmes as Rachel, a childhood friend of Bruce’s that now works in the District Attorney’s office. Despite Rachel not appearing in Batman lore before, the character feels right as someone who was close to young Bruce would share his passion for justice and a better Gotham City. Her more by-the-book pursuit of these goals occasionally causes friction with Batman’s shadowy operations, creating tension that adds to their chemistry. Finally, shoutout to Michael Caine, who delivers incredible performances as Alfred in all three Nolan films.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
This movie is a continuation of the Nolan universe and is able to build upon the first film. Christian Bale returns as Batman, with Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over the role of Rachel (a minor but disappointing replacement). Michael Caine reprises his role as Alfred and Morgan Freeman returns as the witty and invaluable Lucius Fox, the mastermind behind Batman’s gadgets at Wayne Enterprises.
Harvey Dent, the new District Attorney has made strides in shutting down organized crime and corruption in Gotham City. Bruce Wayne sees him as a symbol of hope for the city and thinks he could take Batman’s place, allowing Bruce to retire and lead a more normal life. Yet Harvey and the future of Gotham are thrown into turmoil when a new criminal known as the Joker enters the scene. The Joker in the movie doesn’t care about money or power as much as he is motivated to create chaos, making him more unpredictable and dangerous than other criminals. Heath Ledger delivers an incredible performance as the Joker, which posthumously won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He takes the character beyond the zany, eccentric portrayals of the past, making him into a cold and calculating psychopath who can pit criminals against each other and force Batman into impossible ethical dilemmas. His portrayal of the character feels nuanced and has more depth than previous iterations of the character, which paves the way for 2019’s Joker more than a decade later.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars
This movie was by far the worst of the trilogy. That being said, it is still well made, and therefore doesn’t fall too far on my overall rankings. I think Christopher Nolan tried to do too much in this movie and couldn’t quite pull it off. There are a ton of sub-plots, with Joseph Gordon Levitt’s introduction as police officer John Blake being one of the more interesting ones.
The movie could probably be cut down in length. For example, there was way too much time dedicated to Bruce suffering and recovering after an early defeat. I grew tired of that plotline and it felt like a waste of Christian Bale in such a good role. I don’t like the villain of Bane. His voice is ridiculous and he has unexplained superhuman strength. You can easily poke holes in his motivation and details of his evil plan, making the climax of the film confusing rather than exciting. Anne Hathaway as Catwoman was pretty good, although her performance was a bit too direct at times. There was also zero chemistry between her and Bale, making them decent partners but not compelling romantic interests.
I do think the last 10 minutes of the movie is incredible, with great visuals and strong emotional outcomes. Unfortunately, the end doesn’t fully make up for the rest of the movie but I’d still say that this movie is worth the watch and functions as a passable end to the Christopher Nolan trilogy.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Laura’s Rating: 1/5 Stars
For starters, this is not really a Batman movie. That being said, I have other reasons for not enjoying the film. First of all, the movie is pretty dark. It seems like all the characters are less than perfect and Batman himself (played by Ben Affleck) is possibly evil. Affleck gave a good performance but I hated what director Zack Snyder did with the character. Batman is jaded in his long pursuit for justice and is negative and unreasonable. The batsuit looks like a Robocop costume and the glowing eyes are dumb. Henry Cavill does well as Superman despite an awful script but that is hard to overcome. I initially liked the casting of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor but actually couldn’t stand to watch the character as the movie went on.
I can actually list the things I did like about this movie because there are only a handful. Henry Cavill as Superman is dreamy and as I said, I did enjoy his performance. The Hans Zimmer soundtrack is great and he never disappoints. Alfred having remote control of the bat plane was smart and something I hadn’t seen in other Batman films. Wonder Woman’s entrance was cool and I liked her character the most.
This movie is also way too long. It’s nearly 3 hours and it was painful to get through. Some of the lines from the movie are just awful. Exhibit A: “Black and Blue. Fight Night!” Despite having the most modern special effects technology available, the fight scenes were nothing special and I wasn’t impressed with the visuals. While some of the older Batman movies were bad, they were at least funny and sometimes entertaining. This movie was just not enjoyable to watch and it solidified my strong dislike of director Zack Snyder. Please don’t waste your time.
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
I thought a Lego based film would be silly, but I actually really enjoyed this movie. It was fun and action packed from beginning to end with a couple surprisingly heartwarming moments sprinkled in. Will Arnett voices Batman and is sarcastic and over-the-top but it works in this setting. The star studded voice cast includes Michael Cera, Mariah Carrey, Channing Tatum, Zach Galifianakis as the Joker, and even Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman (not her last appearance in the role).
I can’t believe I’m saying this but viewers familiar with not only Batman’s Rogues Gallery, but also other infamous movie monsters and villains would appreciate this movie the most. Someone did their homework and included many references to each of the previous films, including the 1966 original. Nearly every bad guy from any movie in the Warner Bros. umbrella appears in the film, from Dracula to Voldemort to Agent Smith from the Matrix. The Lego Batman Movie was very enjoyable and a roller coaster of fun. I’d recommend it to Batman fans and movie buffs looking for something light and fun. Kids can absolutely watch it too, making it the perfect family movie night film.
Rankings
The Movies:
Batman Begins (2005)
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Batman (1989)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Batman Forever (1995)
Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Actor Portrayals of Batman/Bruce Wayne:
Christian Bale
Val Kilmer
Michael Keaton
Ben Affleck
Will Arnett (voice)
Adam West
George Clooney
Batman Movie Villains:
1. Joker (The Dark Knight)
2. Scarecrow (Batman Begins)
3. Joker (Batman 1989)
4. Ra’s Al Gul (Batman Begins)
5. Catwoman (Batman Returns)
6. Catwoman (The Dark Knight Rises)
7. Lego Villains (The Lego Batman Movie)
8. Max Shreck (Batman Returns)
9. Two-Face (The Dark Knight)
10. Mr. Freeze (Batman & Robin)
11. Rogues Gallery (Batman: The Movie 1966)
12. Poison Ivy (Batman & Robin)
13. Penguin (Batman Returns)
14. Bane/Talia (The Dark Knight Rises)
15. Lex Luthor (Batman v Superman)
16. Two-Face (Batman Forever)
17. Riddler (Batman Forever)
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this adventure through Batman in film! A lot of these movies are available to stream on HBO Max and Netflix if you’d like to see them for yourself.
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